Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

BOER WAR VETERAN
DIES
A Boer war veteran, rifle shot, bushman and prospector, Mr. Joseph William Barnes, who died in the Temora District Hospital on Wednesday of last week, was a colourful personality. A member of one of the pioneering families of the district north of Coolamon he was born at Yarranjerry station in 1873, being a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Barnes, who were also natives of that district and whose parents were the original selectors of Yarranjerry station in the middle 1840's. From his boyhood, Joe loved the out of doors and the greater part of his life was spent in the bush hunting and prospecting. As a rifle shot he had few equals and was skilled in shooting all wild life. In the days of the old trap shooting of live pigeons it is claimed that he has a record of 78 consecutive kills at Narrandera. In 1893 he enlisted for the Boer War and served with the Citizens'  Bushmen's Contingent. He took part in the 13 days' siege of Ellands River when he was one of about 400 men who stood up to De La Ray's army estimated at be tween 6,000 and 7,000 men. Kitchener relieved the siege and the late Joe Barnes was one of the survivors. It is reported that during the siege Joe shot a black duck on the wing with a 303 rifle to add to the depleted food supplies. Returning to Australia he spent most of his time prospecting for gold and discovered Haggart's Reef at Sebastopol near Temora.